Oncology patients in a pediatric intensive care unit--a 7-year experience

BACKGROUND: As a result of improved therapeutic and diagnostic modalities the survival rate of children with neoplastic disease has increased dramatically. The consequences of these scientific advances have led to increased malignancy-related critical complications requiring the expertise of intensive care practitioners. PATIENTS: From all children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the Martin-Luther University Halle those with hematologic-oncologic condition were evaluated. RESULTS: From 4068 PICU admissions 196 (4.8%) oncologic patients were identified. Most of them were admitted for postoperative care, monitoring or intervention. 24 patients were admitted because of severe disease or treatment related complications. 14 out of 24 (58%) patients died on PICU. Mortality was significant higher in a subgroup requiring mechanical ventilation or suffering from sepsis. All patients but two with multi-organ system failure (> or = 2 organs) died. CONCLUSIONS: Children with neoplastic disease can benefit from pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) support. Successful treatment of life-threatening complications requires a close cooperation of pediatric oncology and PICU. Further studies are necessary to improve therapeutic strategies in oncology patients requiring PICU admission.     

Invasive fungal infections in pediatric oncology patients: 11-year experience at a single institution

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of fungal infections in pediatric hematology and oncology (PHO) patients and to describe variations regarding site of infection, organisms, and mortality. The records of 1,052 patients presenting to the UCLA PHO service with various malignancies from 1991 to 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. No patient received invasive antifungal prophylaxis. Transplant patients were excluded. The 11-year incidence of fungal infections in this pediatric oncology cohort was 4.9%. There was a linear increase in the incidence of fungal infections from 2.9% to 7.8% between 1996 and 2001 (P = 0.001). Patients with acute leukemia represented 36% of the population but had a disproportionate incidence (67%) of fungal infections. Adolescents had twice the expected incidence of infection (P < 0.0001). Overall, Candida sp. was the major pathogen. Over time, a trend of fewer infections caused by Candida and more due to Aspergillus was noted. Blood-borne infections decreased over time, while those in the urinary and respiratory tracts increased (P = 0.04). Sixty-two percent of infections occurred in neutropenic patients. PHO patients had an overall mortality of 21%, but those with fungal infections experienced a 2.6-fold higher mortality that was not attributable to infections alone. Empiric antifungal therapy had no effect on mortality rates. Concurrent nonfungal infections did not increase mortality rates. The incidence of fungal infections increased over time, possibly as a result of advances in antibacterial and chemotherapeutic regimens. Adolescents and patients with leukemia were especially at risk. Fungal infections are a poor prognostic factor, independent of fungal-related mortality. New diagnostic methods allowing for early detection and treatment as well as more effective therapies are needed.     

Vascular complications in living-related and deceased donation pediatric liver transplantation: single center's experience from Turkey

The aim of the study was to assess early and long-term incidence of venous complications, in both deceased donation (DD) and living-related (LR) liver transplantation (LT) in a pediatric population. Seventy-five liver transplants performed in 69 (39 boys, 30 girls) children at Ege University Hospital between 1997 and 2004 were prospectively monitored and reviewed. Age, sex, primary diagnosis, graft type, vascular complications and their management were evaluated. All patients received Doppler ultrasonographic examination both during operation and daily for the first three postoperative days and when necessary thereafter. The complications were classified as early and late presented. Thirty-three grafts (47.8%) were from DD and 36 (52.2%) were from LR donors. Recipients of DD were older than LR donors (mean age 10.5 +/- 5.1 and 5.0 +/- 0.7, respectively) (p < 0.05). Vascular complication occurrence was not statistically different between DDLT and LRLT recipients (p = 0.2), and between infants and children (p = 0.9). Overall, stenosis was more common than thrombosis. We observed hepatic artery (HA) thrombosis, in five of 75 (6.7%) transplants within 30 days post-transplant. Portal vein (PV) thrombosis and hepatic vein (HV) thrombosis were detected in six and one patients (8.7% and 1.3%), respectively. Six PV stenosis were identified (8.7%), while HA and HV-VC (vena cava) stenosis occurred in one and six patients (1.4% and 8.7%), respectively. All PV stenosis (6/33, 18.2%) and one PV aneurysm occurred in DDLT recipients while HV-VC stenosis were detected almost equally in LRLT and DDLT recipients (4/36 vs. 2/33). Except one, all PV stenosis were detected as a late complication and no intervention were needed. Stenosis of HV-VC was more common in girls (5/30 vs. 1/39) (p < 0.05) and the incidence was not different in DDLT and LRLT recipients (p = 0.8). In conclusion, overall incidences of thrombosis and stenosis formation after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) were 17.4% and 18.8%, respectively in our center. We suggest that in the cases with HA thrombosis manifested intra-operatively or within the early postoperative period, graft salvage was successful. Thrombosis of HA causes significant mortality. Thrombosis of PV was among the causes of mortality and morbidity. Stenosis of HV-VC could be managed by angioplasty and endovascular stenting with no significant effect to mortality.     

Utility of tissue expansion in pediatric phallic reconstruction: a 10-year experience

ObjectiveBoys with complex penile anomalies often undergo multiple operations, leaving a paucity of unscarred skin for further reconstructive procedures. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of tissue expansion to provide local skin for successful phallic reconstruction.Materials and methodsEighty boys (mean age of 11.9 years) with hypospadias (n = 42) or epispadias (n = 38) formed the study cohort. All patients had undergone at least one failed reconstructive operation. Indications for tissue expansion included scarcity of penile skin with urethral stenosis, urethrocutaneous fistula, chordee, and/or residual defect. One or two expanders were placed under the skin of the penile shaft and removed at the time of reconstruction.ResultsAverage time between expander placement and reconstruction was 10.9 weeks. Mean follow-up time was 25.3 months. Complications during expansion occurred in 33 patients (41.3%). Twenty-two patients (27.5%) had at least one expander removed prematurely and 46.9% were replaced. Expansion yielded adequate tissue for reconstruction in 76 patients (95.0%). Successful outcomes were achieved in 39 patients after initial reconstruction and 25 patients after further intervention, yielding an overall success rate of 80.0%.ConclusionTissue expansion is a useful tool with an acceptable rate of complications for phallic reconstruction in patients who have failed prior surgical reconstruction.     

Hypercalcemia and childhood cancer: a 7-year experience

Hypercalcemia is a rare but potentially fatal complication during the management of childhood cancer. The treatment of severe hypercalcemia in children has not been clearly defined. The authors present a retrospective series of 16 children (11 boys and 5 girls) with severe hypercalcemia (>/=2.9 mmol/L) treated between 1997 and 2004 for malignancy. Median serum calcium level was 3.14 mmol/L. Hypercalcemia was present at the initial diagnosis of cancer (eight patients) or occurred during treatment (five patients) or during relapse (three patients). Three children had several episodes of hypercalcemia. All children were treated by hydration for a median of 7 days (range 2-12 days). Eight patients received intravenous pamidronate. The other treatments were adapted to the mechanism of hypercalcemia. Serum calcium levels were lowered to below 3 mmol/L after a median of 2 days and to below 2.7 mmol/L after a median of 4 days after starting treatment. Pamidronate was well tolerated apart from one case of multifactorial renal failure. Intravenous pamidronate is a safe and effective treatment for severe cancer-related hypercalcemia in children. Specific therapy must be initiated as soon as possible. Serum calcium levels must be monitored for a fortnight after administration of pamidronate due to the risk of hypocalcemia.     

Human rights consultation: a 12-year experience of a pediatric bioethics committee

For many years there has been a committee at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to review research proposals to assure that the rights of children are protected. In 1974, its composition was changed and its mission broadened to include consultation and discussion of ethical issues in clinical care. The committee is called the Human Rights Committee to reflect this mission. Medical ethical consultations are performed by rotating on-call teams consisting of a physician and a nonphysician who are members of the committee. Selected cases from 48 consultations are presented to demonstrate the process and to illustrate some of the questions that were addressed. The clinical diagnoses were varied, but the commonest were congenital malformations. The most frequent reason for consultation was to question the advisability of assisted ventilation (27 cases), but other reasons concerned definitive surgery, intravenous hyperalimentation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and tracheostomy. Consultations are always optional and advisory. The recommendations of the consultation team are subsequently reviewed by the entire Human Rights Committee. The service has been well received by the medical staff. This method has some of the advantages of both the hospital ethics committee and the single consultant. Therefore, it should be considered when planning how to deal with these important problems.     

Incidence and characteristics of venous thrombotic events in pediatric cancer patients: A 20-year experience in the Maritimes,Canada

Objective: Venous thrombotic events (VTE) are a well-recognized complication in pediatric cancer patients. Population-based data on the incidence and characteristics of VTE in all pediatric cancer patients are limited. This information is crucial to identify patients at high risk and design targeted interventions accordingly. The present study was designed to determine the incidence and characteristics of VTE in the pediatric oncology population. Participants: We conducted a retrospective, population-based, cohort study of patients treated in the Maritimes, Canada between 1995 and 2015. Results: There were 1210 pediatric hematology/oncology patients from the Maritimes, Canada, treated at the IWK Health Centre between 1995 and 2015. Fifty-eight (4.8%) experienced at least 1 VTE and the majority of patients experienced it within 6 months of cancer diagnosis. The median age of patients who experienced VTE was 10.7 years (SD = 6.0). The most common presenting symptom of thrombosis was central venous line dysfunction, and the most common location for thrombosis was within the upper venous system. We observed that 65.6% of the patients with VTE required >1 central venous catheters (CVC). The presence of a VTE increased the odds of requiring >1 CVC to 3.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.76–7.3). Conclusion: Thus, in this large, population-based study, we present the incidence and characteristics of VTE in the pediatric oncology population and demonstrate the clinical impact of VTE in terms of loss of CVC. Larger, prospective studies are required to confirm these findings and to develop a risk model for managing and preventing VTE in this patient population.     

Suicide in pediatric patients: 30 cases

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate suicide attempts in pediatric population and analyze the morbimortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have reviewed thirty reports from twenty six patients hospitalized in UCIP by suicide attempts with an average age of 15.5 years (range 11-19) between January 1991 and April 1999. Results The following variables were analyzed: age, sex, precipitating suicidal event, number of suicide attempts, symptoms, method, treatment and mortality. The age group with more incidence was between 14 and 17 years with 73% (22 cases). The majority were girls (96%). There were prior suicide attempt in 40% (12 cases). Psychiatric disorder more frequently associated was anorexia nervosa in 70%. The most common method was self-poisoning (93%). Neurologic symptoms were seen in 20 cases. The more used treatment was activated coal. The clinical outcome was favourable and only two patients died. Conclusions The suicide attempts are happening more frequently in the adolescence in the last years. Pediatricians have to be prepared to recognize and provide prompt attention to acute medical, familiar and social problems.     

小儿阑尾炎早期诊断的临床研究——30年10256例小儿阑尾炎经验总结

目的总结连续30年10256例小儿阑尾炎的诊断治疗经验,提出早期诊断的临床标准,为早期手术治疗提供依据,以降低病死率,减少并发症。方法统计1980年至2009年本院收治的小儿阑尾炎病例10256例,使用32项临床指标进行对比研究,提出核心诊断指标指导临床早期诊治。在新的理念指导下,分析前10年及后20年,阑尾炎病例在腹膜炎的发生率以及阑尾炎病理类型上的变化,探讨早期诊断标准在提高阑尾炎诊治水平方面的实际意义。结果10256例阑尾炎病例中,死亡1例,死亡率小于1／10000。8241例阑尾炎病例的有效统计中,持续性右下腹疼痛或伴哭吵不安症状的患儿8131例（98．67％）,右下腹固定压痛8103例（98．33％）。实施早期诊断标准后,阑尾炎穿孔形成腹膜炎的发生率从早期的43．82％降低为29．88％。10256例中,595例为婴幼儿阑尾炎,466例并发阑尾周围脓肿。结论持续性右下腹疼痛及右下腹固定压痛是临床诊断小儿阑尾炎的核心指标,既是必要的,也是充分的。小儿阑尾炎的临床早期诊断是提高治愈率,减少并发症的关键。     

Improving quality of pediatric onco-critical care: A 2-year experience using PROACTIVE at a cancer center in Jordan

PROACTIVE (PediatRic Oncology cApaCity Assessment Tool for IntensiVe CarE) is a consensus-derived tool that evaluates pediatric onco-critical care (POCC) services and identifies gaps amenable to improvement. King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC), an oncology hospital in Jordan, completed PROACTIVE in 2021 and 2022. We evaluated PROACTIVE's ability to identify gaps and improve POCC services at KHCC by analyzing score changes and interviewing site leaders to understand mechanisms of improvement. Results identified three types of outcomes: direct (e.g., improved multidisciplinary communication), indirect (e.g., guidelines implementation), and other outcomes unrelated to PROACTIVE (e.g., funding mechanisms). PROACTIVE can assist institutions strengthen and monitor POCC services over time.     

Dexrazoxane for the prevention of cardiomyopathy in anthracycline treated pediatric cancer patients

Anthracyclines play a major role in chemotherapeutic regimens for a variety of childhood cancers, but produce dose-related cardiotoxicity. Dexrazoxane, a chelating agent that binds iron intracellularly, has been cautiously included in anthracycline-based regimens. Our understanding of anthracycline and dexrazoxane pharmacokinetics in children is very limited. In addition, the administration schedule used for adults (bolus dexrazoxane prior to bolus anthracycline) may not be the best to attain both short- and long-term cardioprotection. Dexrazoxane could diminish the anti-tumor activity of and/or increase toxicities from anthracyclines. Pediatric oncologists must be assured this intervention does not diminish the success in curing children with cancer.     

Second malignant neoplasms in survivors of childhood cancer

As the treatment of childhood cancer continues to improve, the number of survivors at risk for late effects rises. One such late effect is the risk of second malignant neoplasms. Large multicenter registries have been established to accumulate data on the incidence of second cancers. Relative risks and cumulative risks can now be calculated for retinoblastoma, Wilm's tumor and Hodgkin's disease. Early data are now available for leukemia, sarcomas and central nervous system tumors. Genetic cancer syndromes, radiation therapy and treatment with chemotherapeutic agents are known risk factors for second malignant neoplasms in survivors of childhood cancer.     

Surgical management in pediatric neuroblastoma diagnosis and treatment:a 20-year,single-center experience

Background The currently utilized International Neuroblastoma Risk Group(INRG)staging system developed in 2009 uses image-defined risk factors as a measure of surgical risk,separating resectable neuroblastoma from those best preceded by chemotherapy.The previous International Neuroblastoma Staging System was based primarily on surgical findings.We hypothesized there would be a change to the role of the surgeon in neuroblastoma treatment in the more recent decade.Methods This is a single center 20-year retrospective analysis of 104 patients with International Classification of Diseases-9 and-10 codes for neuroblastoma.Patient demographics,tumor site,cancer treatment modality,survival,biopsy technique,surgical intervention,and pathology staging were collected.Data was analyzed by analysis of variance(ANOVA)and Student’s t test.Results There was a decrease in open surgeries for extra-adrenal neuroblastomas in the later decade(77%,31%,P=0.01).There was a narrowing of the time interval to surgery in the later cohort,likely as a result of uniformity in surgical timing on treatment protocols relying on INRG staging.Conclusions Our findings mirror changes in practice patterns globally.We found an increase in minimally invasive approaches but did not find a difference in the role of the surgeon under the INRG staging system.     

Second neoplasms after treatment of childhood cancer in Slovenia

BACKGROUND: The number of long time survivors of childhood cancer treatment is constantly increasing over the last decades as a result of advances in diagnosis and treatment. The occurrence of second neoplasms is one of most serious late effects observed in cancer survivors. METHODS: The risk of secondary neoplasm was studied in a cohort of 1,577 patients treated for childhood cancer registered in the Cancer Registry of Slovenia (CRS) between 1961 and 2000. The time at risk was defined from the date of diagnosis of first malignancy to the time of death or the end of the study. RESULTS: The most frequent primary malignancies were: acute leukemia 28.5%, central nervous system (CNS) tumors 21.3%, and lymphomas 16.6%. Median observation time was 7.8 years. Forty-eight patients developed second neoplasms. CNS tumors, acute leukemias, and thyroid carcinoma were most frequent second neoplasms. The cumulative risk for second neoplasm in the entire cohort was 0.06% at 5 years, 5.1% at 15 years, and 12.6% at 25 years after diagnosis of first cancer. The overall survival after second neoplasm was 65% 10 years after the diagnosis of second neoplasm. CONCLUSIONS: Patients after treatment of childhood cancer are at special risk for subsequent neoplasms and long-term follow-up is mandatory.